Congrats on the four-legged addition to your family! I assume it must be a cute one. With a pet comes the responsibility of providing the best possible life for them, are you prepared for it?

Be a reliable pet owner and take care of your dog's lifestyle and health; at all times. And to begin with a healthy lifestyle, first comes a healthy diet.

Therapeutic Food

A therapeutic diet for a dog can help prevent certain health conditions in them or prevent them from aggravating. Therefore, as a responsible pet parent, your furry friend's health relies on you.

This food is a formulation of increasing certain diet elements or decreasing a few to get balanced nutrition for your furball. In this way, a nutritious or therapeutic diet alone can ensure the health and well-being of your pet.

We will address six reasons in this article that imply; it's time for your dog to take the therapeutic diet.

Disease or Medical Condition

If your dog suffers from a medical condition, you can change its diet. For a pet's stomach problems, kidney disease, diabetes, or liver diseases, you can adjust their food to something more suitable.

Since some diseases can be deadly, it is vital to get your dog a therapeutic diet formulated to manage and treat the symptoms of the disease.

For example, a dog suffering from kidney disease may have to limit their access to phosphorus and protein.

Hence a change in the diet can ensure that if the condition can't be reversed, at least it slows down its track. After all, when it comes to fur babies, everyone wants to give them the very best food they deserve

Obesity

As common as obesity is in humans, the same is for dogs. They can gain weight affecting their overall health.

Yet, note that if their weight has slightly increased, which could only require a reduction in portion size or longer walking time. If this is not the case, then a therapeutic food to lose weight could be your best option.

This food is low in calories, contains more fiber, and added ingredients such as L-carnitine. It helps boost metabolism and makes them feel fuller for extended periods, hence no more overeating.

Consult your vet about your choices. Ensure your buddy gets all the nutrition they need (vitamins and minerals) while cutting down on some calories.

They can also suggest other specialized foods to boost their health. Like something to maintain their weight and helps their joints problem.

Since being overweight means a load on the joint, a diet high in protein will help. It will supply lots of energy for exercise and strong muscles that assist their weight loss journey.

Allergies or Intolerances:

Like humans, a Fido can be susceptible to food allergies and intolerances. It can lead to:

• Skin irritations (eczema, dermatitis)
• Gastrointestinal upset or irritable bowel syndrome
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea or
• Ear infections.

Thus, a therapeutic diet may contain protein in its simplest form that is easy to digest and prevent stimulation of any immune response.

These are hypoallergenic foods containing nutrients that prevent allergy symptoms and promote health.

Nonetheless, don't begin a therapeutic food on the get-go. Skin allergies or ear infections could be due to their surroundings. A close inspection of their lifestyle by a professional can help your dog without making changes to its diet.

Ageing and senior dogs:

An ageing dog is not a problem itself, but the changing conditions of its body could lead to health problems like diabetes, heart problems, or cancer.

But with proper nutrition intake, we can control all this.

Food for mature dogs has fewer calories and high antioxidants (glucosamine and chondroitin). It will support immune function and support joint health.

Dog food specially made for seniors will help manage many age-related problems, including cognitive decline and dental diseases.

With everything said, the final decision on switching to therapeutic food and what to feed should count on the dog's requirements.

Post-surgery or recovery:

As humans require special care after their surgeries, dogs do, too. A living being that undergoes surgery may need more nutrients than before to recover.

Feed these extra proteins, vitamins, and mineral requirements through therapeutic food. It will support their tissue repair and immune functions, boosting their healing process.

Your fluffy is already going through a lot before, during, and after surgery; give them the care and attention they need so they regain their strength.

Urinary Tract Issues

When the minerals in urine crystalize, they become stones in the bladder or the urinary tract. Other problems, such as urinary incontinence or urinary tract infection, can be painful and serious.

A therapeutic food with fewer minerals and more antioxidants is the answer. Some will also promote more water intake to prevent the formation of these stones. But there are different kinds of stones.

Some will respond to a therapeutic diet and stops crystal formation. But others do not react to specialized foods (sadly) and require surgery to stop the pain.

The main takeaway is to connect with your vet before starting on a therapy food. They can assess the health condition of your dog and suggest you the perfect therapy food for your furry partner.

They will suggest the most suitable diet and a feeding guideline, duration, and any unusual response to check for.

Conclusion

Therapy food plays a vital role in managing and preventing various diseases with proven results to provide a better quality of life. They provide specific nutrition to address allergies, weight issues, aging, or illnesses.

We understand the urge to mix and match various therapeutic diets to manage your dog's health problems. But this is not how it should be and contact your vet for expert advice.

With a look at their lifestyle and health problems, you can select the best therapeutic diet for your dog that ensures the most nutrition. We agree that taking enjoyable food away from your dog seems harsh, especially when they're showing their large sparkly eyes.

But a therapeutic diet can work wonders with their health and quality of life.

 

Article Guest Written by: Arslan Hassan